Category: Life
The Martian Chronicler
Ray Bradbury died today.
He hadn’t been well, a stroke many years ago left him damaged, doubtless uncomfortable. But he hung around, the world gave him a few more awards, celebrated him in the small and varied corners where writers of moment get celebrated. Some people probably thought he’d died already, years past.
But, ironically, he published an essay in the New Yorker a few days ago, autobiographical. I say ironic because of the title.
I met Ray Bradbury a couple of times. On neither occasion was it enough to become first-name basis camaraderie. But he was gracious, friendly, and generous with his time. …
Honor and Duty
They go where they are sent and do what is necessary, so the rest of us don’t have to. That’s the idea, anyway. Sometimes they get sent places they shouldn’t be and told to do things that shouldn’t be done, but that’s not their call. They have promised to be a shield, to stand between us and the dark places. It’s our job to know where the dark places are and how much a threat they pose.
It’s our duty to use them wisely so that their honor is our honor. When it goes well, they return, those that do, and they are admired and we take a collective pride in the job, the sacrifice, the honor which their actions transfer to us.…
Should the World End…
…give me a call. I’m halfway through the current draft of a novel I would like to finish by month’s end (not likely) so I probably won’t be posting much if anything here. Meantime a couple of new images so you have something cool to see when you drop by.
Brief Comment About Debt and Taxes
This won’t take long. I do not intend to put up links or post graphs and charts or cite stats (at least, not much). This is just a short post to make what ought to be an obvious observation but seems to get no traction in the political discourse.
Washington is once more gearing up for a Debt Ceiling Showdown. According to the president, we’re going to have to borrow some more money before year’s end, which will require raising the limit on what we may borrow—again. Speaker of the House Boehner has once more drawn a line in the check register and declared “No further!” …
Bill Donahue and Lawful Bigotry
I don’t care much for Bill Donahue of the Catholic League. I find him a throwback, a kneejerk bigot who opens his mouth and everything I find insupportable about politicized religion comes out. That said, I also find him refreshing, in that he usually always says exactly what he means and does not equivocate in order make political points with tepid constituencies. For instance:
That last bit is what I find useful. He wants the law to discriminate against lifestyles with which he disagrees. He has a list. He tells it out with no frills, no conditional language, no soft-pedaling. Bravo, Mr.…
Preferred Position
I really like Neil deGrasse Tyson. He’s my kinda scientist and he speaks well. Please watch the entire video before continuing with my little bit.
Okay, there’s a lot in that with which I agree. In fact, he gets to my preferred stance on the whole issue, that I would rather not have to deal with the categories and all the rhetorically inevitable garbage that comes with them. The problem is that most people actually won’t let you do that.
If I am asked honestly about my thoughts on whether or not there is a god, my answer is usually predetermined, not by me but by the person asking the question. …
More Music
I wish I had recordings. Sometimes, these monthly jam sessions just turn out sweet.
I don’t have much to say about this past Saturday night’s coffeehouse other than everyone had a good time and we had some surprising performances. So rather than try to recapture the musicality, I offer a few images.
Bob is a multitalented player, whose skill I envy. A pleasant surprise was his daughter, Diane, showing up, who turned out (not very surprisingly) to be musically adept as well.
The guy on the right is one of my oldest friends, Tom. …